Artificial limb



M. B. DONALDSON & W. KESPOHL. ARTIFICIAL LIMB (No Model.)

Patented Mar. 2, 1 897.v

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MARTIN BENNETT DONALDSON AND WILLIAM KESPOHL, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,222, dated March 2, 1897.

Application filed July 25, 1896. Serial No. 600,547. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MARTIN BENNETT DONALDSON and WILLIAM KESPOHL, citizens of the United States, residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Limbs; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in artificial limbs, and has more particular relation to the cushion or socket in the limb for receiving the end or stump of the amputated member.

The invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of an artificial limb embodying our invention, partly broken away to eX- pose our improved socket. Fig.2 represents a central vertical section through the same. Fig. 3 represents a detail broken view of an artificial limb containing a modified form of our support for the cushion-socket. Fig. 4

represents a detail perspective view of the bottom plate and cushion-block, and Fig. 5 represents a detail perspective view of the supporting-base shown in this View.

A in the drawings represents the lower portion of an artificial limb; B, the upper split portion, adapted to be attached to the leg of the cripple by lacing on hooks or any other suitable means. The said upper and lower portions A and B are connected together upon each side by a hinge-joint b of any suitable and well-known construction.

The lower limb portion A is hollow to receive the stump of the amputated limb. Within this hollow portion A is applied our improved pneumatic socket O, which is constructed as follows; An impression or cast of the amputated stump is first made and a model made therefor. About this model is applied a sleeve 0, of light soft leather. Outside of the sleeve 0 is applied, by means of cement, another light sleeve 0', of rubber, of less depth than the first-mentioned sleeve, whereby an extended edge is left upon the latter. About this sleeve 0 is loosely applied another light rubber sleeve 0 secured to said sleeve 0' only at its edges, so as to leave the interior walls separated. These two rubber sleeves form together a receptacle capable of inflation, being provided with a nipple 0 to which a suitable pump or the like may be attached. About this nipple the rubber walls are preferably reinforced. Over the sleeve 0 is applied a thin sleeve 0 of leather, free except at its edges. A coating of cement is then applied to the said sleeve 0 and a light sleeve 0 of rawhide, drawn aboutit. The extended edges of the sleeve 0 are then turned over the edges of the several internal sleeves and secured to the outside of the rawhide sleeve by cement. A coating of shellac is then applied to the rawhide sleeve, and when this is dry the socket is removed from the model and is ready for use when inflated.

From the aforegoing description and an inspection of the drawings it will be seen that the peneumatic socket portion forms at its extreme upper edge a yielding bearing for the stump of the human limb and that said portion extends up beyond the top of the wooden portion A, and by being thus extended the air-induction nipple 0 can be inserted into it above said wooden portion, and thus all necessity of using a separate inflatable ring-cushion at the top of the wooden portion A and also of providing a passage for the insertion of the induction-tube in the wooden port-ions A is avoided. In applying this socket in the artificial limb we employ either one of two constructions-one in which a cushion-base is employed and the other a solid or non-cushion base.

The cushion-base for supporting the socket comprises an apertured plate E, having a peripheral bead or enlargement 6 adapted to fit about the lower end of the socket, and two apertures e 6, adapted to receive the upper ends of the two parts of a cushion-block 2 This cushion is preferably constructed of rubber and comprises a flat plate e havingtwo raised projections c e thereon, said projections adapted to fit into the apertures e e, as before described. The socket may be supported by resting upon springs, or may be suspended by springs or elastic bands. The solid or non-elastic support F comprises a ring f, adapted to fit within the socket and provided with radial fingers f f, extending outward and upward, so as to clasp the outside of the socket. The socket will of course be supported at the proper point in the artificial limb according to the point of amputation of the cripples leg.

It will be observed from the above that a perfect pneumatic cushion is formed to receive the lower end of the amputated limb and thus prevent any shock or injury to the same and at the same time cushion its action.

We of course do not care to limit ourselves to the application of the pneumatic socket in the lower portion of the artificial limb, as it can be applied in the thigh portion equally well. The said socket can also be employed in any form of artificial limb with very slight alterations to insure a perfect fit.

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An artificial limb provided with a separated yielding pneumatic socketed portion comprising an inner sleeve of leather, two separated rubber sleeves about the same, and an outer protecting-sleeve about the outer sleeve; the two rubber sleeves being joined at their upper and lower edges so as to form an air-tight air-receptacle, and provide a stout durable upper edge above the wooden portion of the limb; and a nipple inserted into the upper edge of the socketed portion, for the introduction of air, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In an artificial limb the combination with a limb proper, of a pneumatic socket, a base to receive the same and rubber cushions adapted to engage said plate and support said socket, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we hereunto afiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN BENNETT DONALDSON. WILLIAM KESPOHL.

\Vitnesses:

JAMES T. WATsoN, JOHN H. BRIGHAM. 

